Apparatus for dehydrating foods.



G. D. HARRIS & J. S. POLLARDV APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATINC- FOODS. AYELIOATION FILED FEB. 13, 1909. RENEWED 111111.22. 1911.

1,917,412, Patented Feb. 13,1912.

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APPARATUS FOR DEHYDRATING FOODS. APPLICATION FILED 23.13, 1909. RENEWED AUG. 22. 1911. 1 ,01 7,41 2.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

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GORDON IIARRIS, 0F BAY SHORE, AND JAMES S. POLLARD, OF MAMARONEGK, NEW

YORK, ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 GENERAL DEHYDRATO'R COM- Arrannrus non DEHYDRATING roons.

1,017,412. specificationpf Letters Patent PatentedFeb. 13, 1912.

Application filed February 13, 1909, Serial No. 477,667.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GonooN DON HARRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bay Shore, Sufi'olk county State of New York, andJAMns S. PoLLAnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mamaroneck, Vt' estchester county, and State of New York, have jointly invented a certain new and useful Apparatus for Dehydrating Foods, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an apparatus for dehydrating foods, particularly fruits and vegetables, and the object in view is to eXpeditiously and thoroughly remove or eliminate the aqueous constituents from the food products under treatment, and to effect these results in a simple and economical manner.

It is well established thatdecay or deteri0-- ration will not take place in fruits or vege tables in the absence of moisture, and the present invention is aimed at removing from said fruits and vegetables the watery constituent-s on which decay depends, but, moreover, to eliminate this watery element so rapidly that the residuary constituents of the fruits and vegetables remain practically unchanged. In other words, the invention is an apparatus for producing dehydrated fruits and vegetables retaining the normal characteristics of the fresh products, except that the water has been eliminated therefrom.

The following table shows substantially the weight of aqueous vapor contained in one hundred cubic feet of air saturated there with, at the temperatures specified.

At degrees Fahrenheit 936 ounces.

At 1. 826 At 90 3. 386 At 113 6. 188 At 131 10. 350

, Long Island, and I Renewed August 22, 1911. Serial No. 645,412.

degrees, it would carry, when saturated, 10.350 ounces of moisture, or an increase, due to the elevation of temperature, of substantially 8.5 ounces. In other words, under the conditions specified, each 100 cubic feet of air would remove from the food products, theoretically, 8:} ounces of moisture. In practice, howe ver, in order to thoroughly eliminate the water so rapidly that the fruits and vegetables are not otherwise changed from their natural condition, we employ, as a rule,

about 90% more air than the theoretical quantity above specified.

' The amount of water in all edible fruits and vegetables being known, or capable of determination, the volume of air to be heated and driven through the dehydrating apparatus may be easily computed. 4

In the accompanying drawings, we have illustrated one practical embodiment of the invention, but the construction shown therein is to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross section of the apparatus, partly in diagrammatic form. Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. 'Fig. 3 is a view in elevation, showing parts of both the inside and outside of the apparatus, and Fig. 4c is a sectional elevation taken on line 4% of Fig. 1.

. In the drawings, A, represents the main or outer casing of the dehydrating apparatus, which is divided into a plurality of chambers, Bi, B B B B by means of partitions, Z), preferably inclined. Each of the chambers, B to B is divided into a series of compartments by horizontal parti tions 0, and in each one of these compartments is a foraminous tray d, adapted to contain the fruits or vegetables to be treated.

The trays d are supported. at their sides v running lengthwise of the main casing by means of' angle-irons e, and the depth of these trays is considerably less than the distance between the partitions 0, thereby providing a free space above and below each tray, and compelling the air to thoroughly circulate around and through the fruit or vegetables contained in the trays.

Air is forced into the apparatus by means of a blower C, and exhausted therefrom by 'means of a second blower D. The air after passing through the blower C heated o All the temperature desired, in the heating chamber by means of a steam coil j", which in practice is so constructed that the inconr ing air may be subjected to any extent of heating surface found necessary. 1

. removing the trays a therefrom, through the medium oi the pivoted doors .l, having latches there being, in practice, three doors provided in the casing A at the side of each of the said compartments.

trunks or mains G and H respectively in the tapering form described, and by inclining the partitions, 7), as described, the course of the through the apparatus is assisted, and each of the chambers receives proper proportion oiair. over, that as air escapes from the compartments containing the trays 03, it pass directly into the outgoing trunk H, wi nout being permitted to enter any other compartment, thereby supplying" each compartment 'With freshly heated air, and precluding the air, after it has absorbed moisture from the fruit or vegetables in one compartmens from again entering the same or any other con?- *partmenc.

The frame Work of the apparatus, and the outer casing, are preferably made of Wood, but in practice it has been found desirable to line the interior thereof, including the partitions and iii-take and out-going trunks, with galvanized iron it, for the purpose of providing a smooth and sanitary surface on the interior of the apparatus.

in practice We have found it desirable an advantageous to have the ingoing air enter the apparats at a pressure about t ounces, and to allow it to escape therefrom at a pressure 01 abont two ounces, thereby maintaining a slio'ht pressure in the apparatus at all times during itsoperation.

The material operated upon, such. as benanas, apples, carrots, turnips, parsnips, potatoes, etc, are usually peeled and then out to the desired size before placing the same in the trays. While the length. of time re quired for effecting complete dehydration varies according to the material. treated, and the particular method of operation, yet, as a rule, We are enabled to completely elimi nate the liquid or moisture from said materials in one hour.

lt will, of course, be

lily making the iii-take and out-going it will be noted, more understood that now ire slight modifications may be made in the appara is described, as Well as in the mode of operation set forth, Without departing from ,the spirit or substance of our in vention.

tion, what We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. in an apparatus of the class described, a casing, an air inlet and an air exitthere to, a series of inclined partitions therein forming a plurality of chambers, and a series of partitions in. each chamber dividing the chamber into a number oi. compartments.

2. in an apparatus of the class described, a casing, an air inlet and an air exit thereto, a series of inclined partitions therein forming a plurality of chambers, a series of partitions in each chamber dividing the chamber into a number of compartments, and a icraniinous tray in each compartment.

3. in an apparatus of the class described, casing, a series of partitions Within the same forming a plurality of chambers, a series of partitions Within each chamber and dividing the same into a series of compartments, said last mentioned. partitions being transverse to the first named partitions, a tapering in-tahe common to said chan1- hers, and a tapering" air exit also common to said chambers.

ii. In an apparatus of the class described, a casing, a series of partitions Within the same forming a plurality of chambers, a series of partitions transverse to, and disconnected from, the first named partitions, said second named partitions being Within each chamber and dividing, the same into separate compartments, an iii-take common. to said chambers, an air exit also common to said chambers, a blower C forcing air into said air intake, and a fan for exhausting air .lroin sa'd air exit.

an apparatus of the class described,

a casing-2;, a series of partitions Within. the 1 owning a plurality of chambers, each 6. In an apparatus of the class described,

chambers being provided with a of horizontal partitions disconnected from the upright partitions, a tapering air inlet common'to all of said chambers, a plurality of deflectors in said air in-take for the purpose of regulating the quantity of air delivered to each of said chambers, and anair outlet common to said chambers and tapering oppositely to that of the air inlet.

'7. In an apparatus of the class described,

' a casing, a series of inclinedpartitions therein, forming a plurality of chambers, a series of-partitions in each chamber dividing the chamber into a number of compartments, a tapering air in-take common tothe several chambers, a tapering air exit also common to the several chambers, means for forcing air into air in-take, and-means for exhaustingair from said air exit. 7

8. In an apparatus of the class ,described,

7 a casing, an air inlet and air exit thereto,

a series of inclined partitions in said casing forming .a plurality of chambers therein, a series of imperforate' part1tions in each of said chambers for dividing the chambers into a number of compartments, foraminous trays positioned within said chambers between the partitions, and doors on either side of said casing for providing access to the trays.

9. In an apparatus of the class described, a casing provided with a series of chambers, a plurality of impcrforate horizontal parti-. tions within said chambers, means positioned between the partitions for supporting drying trays a tapering air in-take common to said chambers, a tapering an exit also common to and extending past all of said chambers, means for forcing heated air-into the air iii-take andv means for exhausting air from said air exit. 7

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

Witnesses H. I. BERNHAIiD, M. C. POWELL. 

